Shanelle

Mehta1137

Design Task 5 – Child Development

The Year 1 teachers at Dubai British School have asked me to designand create a piece of children’s furniture that is safe for the children and

can be kept in their classroom. The product should have apirate theme. I have chosen to research and design a bench with storagecapacity for children in the specific age group of 3-5. The reason for my

choice is that at this age, children have a lot of playthings, however,storage space which is easily accessible to the child, is often a challenge.

My aim is to produce an ergonomic design that provides functional and aesthetic value in addition to arresting the interests of the consumer

through evaluation of their mindset and thorough anthropometricresearch. While attractive storage benches are available in other parts of

the world within a reasonable price range, the range of seating(incorporating storage capacity) for children in my age range, is

extremely scarce in the UAE. I have found,during my research that the few benches that areavailable incorporate colour and are functional to an extent, though

they lack appeal for the specific target audience I have chosen to caterto, through my design.

I would like my design to be bright, bold and vibrant as well as have autility value, which is a feature I have not seen in

the benches available in the local market.

Design Brief

Aesthetics: This product has a beautiful butterfly and floral motif which is aesthetically pleasing thereby increasing its saleability. The pretty pink palette, though stereotypical, remains the colour scheme in highest demand for little girls within the target age group. Its excellent finish and polished surfaces add to the beauty of the product.

Target Audience: Families with children aged between 3 and 6.Primary SchoolsDay Care CentresParent Teacher Associations

Dimensions:31” L x 14.5” W x 23” H

Cost: $178.99

Dimensions:31" L x 15" W x 26" H

Cost: $118.99

These products have a special slow-closing metal hinge on the storage lids to prevent injury to children when using the products.No sharp points and edges.

Safety Features

Function: Provides seating for young children.Storage facility for toys, clothes etc.

Materials: Hardwood Plywood has been used as it has high strength and durability due to a higher packed grain. It is cost effective which is appealing to the target audience.High Grade Plastic

My comments: I believe that both designers have successfully researched the mindset of the target age group and the products meet their functionality. The use of softer surface materials may have enhanced the comfort of the seat.

Products Currently Available Internationally

Aesthetics: This product is fun and colourful with an animal theme which will attract its target audience. It has an interesting backrest incorporating two spinning ‘jingle bell drums’ which is a unique feature as it helps to keep the child occupied. A special poem is printed onto the backrest as well, though this particular feature may not be completely suitable for the younger age group, who are still learning to read.

Dimensions: 39’’ x 23.2’’ x 21.8’’ Materials: High Grade PlasticTarget Audience: Parents of boys or girls between the ages of 2 and 8.Aesthetics: This toy box is very simple however, has a very large toy storage capacity. The lid opens easily allowing for kids to use the product easily and effectively. It is very easy to keep clean. Function: Stores the childrens’ possessions.Safety Features: The lid of the storage box detaches to prevent the children from accidentally hurting themselves when using the product. It has no sharp edges.Cost: $86.47

Dimensions :39.5” L x 23.5” H x 42.0” WMaterials : Baltic Birch Target Audience: Primary schools, Paediatric hospitals, libraries, parents of children betweend 4 and 7.Features: The design can be used to optimise room space as it can occupy a corner. This product also provides storage space for toys and books. The seat and backrest are padded with polyurethane foam making the seating area comfortable.Price:USD 700 – This product is priced considerably higher than other similar products. The price difference is due to the usage of Baltic Birch, however, such a product may suit long term usage such as in a hospital or library but could possibly be too expensive for a family whose children will soon outgrow it.

Products Currently Available

Internationally

Similar Products Available in the U.A.E.

Price : AED 400Dimensions:

90 W X 50D X 50 H (cms)Features :

- Low storage to match a child's height; makes it easier for them

to reach and organise their things.

- The product is versatile as the option of doors or drawers are

available in different colours allowing for personal taste.

- Stands steady also on an uneven floor (has adjustable

feet which makes it safe).Aesthetics: The product is very plain in it’s overall appearance

and this piece is one of the more expensive in it’s range.

Price: AED 195Dimensions: 99W X 54 D

X 36 H (cms) This product is not

particularly aimed at young children however, due to the low height , it may be used for storage

of children’s toys or clothes. It has a mid ranged cost though lacking the kind of

aesthetic appeal required for children.

Materials used : ABS plastic which is a strong recyclable

plastic with high impact resistance , particle board- (being cheaper, denser and

more uniform than conventional wood), acrylic paint and melamine foil to

add aesthetic value.

Price : AED 300Dimensions:

80 W X 45 D X 42 H (cms)

Features :This box is available in a vibrant yellow . The treasure chest shape would be particularly

appealing to little children.

My comments : During my research I have noticed that the product I would like to create, is

not readily available in the local market. The benches available are plain in design and not aesthetically appealing to the target market.

Families with young children:I think that an aesthetically interesting storage bench would

be ideal for a young child’s bedroom or play area. Little children have a lot of toys and playthings and families with

young children often struggle with space to store all the toys as well as trying to keep the home looking tidy. My

product provides storage and the design allows for young children to be able to reach and access the storage areas

safely and easily. Children love to feel self sufficient and the product encourages children to learn how to tidy their

own belongings.The Airline Industry:The airline industry is a highly competitive market and modern successful airlines are quickly learning that to be ahead of the game , they need to have a distinct edge over the competition. Leading aircraft manufacturers, Boeing and Airbus are developing designs that include common bar areas, simulated mini golf and swimming pools on board. However, an area that I believe is still to be developed are play areas for children, as little children often find long plane flights difficult – causing anxiety for parents as well as other passengers. A small corner where children can play and sit on their ‘own seat’ for a while would bring a welcome change. The product could be adapted to the specifications required for the interiors of an aircraft.

Client Options

Hospitals:I believe that paediatric hospitals as well as maternity wards would be interested in a toy storage bench as it would help to provide entertainment for small children while sitting in waiting rooms. It would also make the children feel special as they would have their own little area to sit in that was fun and colourful in comparison to the usual chairs provided for everyone. I think that it would make a child’s experience when visiting the doctor a lot more fun and interesting. This product would be useful in a maternity ward as many mothers have slightly older children who have to stay at the hospital for the time that they are there. It would keep the kids occupied while their parents were busy. In the children’s ward of a hospital, I believe this product would also be widely appreciated by the young children who are admitted to hospitals as it would liven up the rooms and give them something to do.

Primary Schools and Day Care Centres:I think that primary schools, kindergartens and day care centres would benefit from childrens storage benches. It would provide an aesthetically pleasing storage facility for all the toys and playthings that they have. This product would also enhance the look of the daycare centre or kindergarten as it would add colour to the room. It allows for more seating and keeps the children entertained and happy.

The foundation unit would benefit from children’s storage benches as they would provide an aesthetically pleasing storage facility for all the toys that the children use during their school day. My product would also enhance the look of the foundation classrooms as it would add more colour to the room. As children of this age tend to sit on the floor when playing with their things, my product would be beneficial as it provides a play mat for a more comfortable play area.

The foundation children are ideal customers for my product as the product provides them with storage, bright colours and the pirate theme which would usually only be aimed at little boys, incorporates a picture of a parrot pirate, thereby making the

product suitable and appealing to little both boys and girls.My product can be used by more than one child and can be kept for some years, adding to the value of the product. The mat

will allow for additional seating on the ground while protecting their little feet from germs and cold floors while playing with

their toys.

The foundation teachers find their students antics amusing but they often have to pick up after the kids as the toys are strewn all over the floor and the neat pile that they attempts to make in one

corner, is always brought down within a few hours! With the limited space in the classroom, the teachers would like to have a specific area where the kids can sit and have their own space and where the toys can be stored away in a more organized manner.

They have been to a few stores to look for a piece of furniture but are always disappointed, as benches with storage space are

available but the colours are always targeted at either a boy (race cars and super hero themes) or a girl (everything in pink with

Barbie or fairy themes) and they are keen to pick up a piece of furniture that would be appealing to both the girls and boys in the

class.

The foundation children get along really well and love role play, stories and stuffed toys. They can often be seen sitting on the

floor with all their stuffed toys around them as they act like “Mummy and Daddy” or

“the teacher” as they teach all their toys to read and write!!

Client Profile

Company Profile – The Home Centre

During my research, when I visited Home Centre I found that the colour palettes and themes used in the children’s section were definitely appealing. However, I was unable to find any benches with storage or a product that combined seating, storage and play fun all in one. In what may be considered a stereotypical fashion, the products targeted either a boy or a girl and the range of unisex furniture products was extremely limited.

I believe that Home Centre is the ideal store to market my product as it is part of the Landmark Group which is one of the largest retail conglomerates in the Middle East and India. The Landmark Group has a diverse portfolio of retail and hospitality brands. As it also manages hospitals so the product would also have the possibility of being utilised in the children’s wards.

My product is bold, bright and fun – it also bridges an apparent gap that currently exists in Home Centre’s range of products. While Home Centre enjoys a privileged clientele, I would bring the company a fresh perspective, breaking away from the old stereotypes in children’s furniture and adding to the existing vibrancy and colour of it’s brand!

“There's no place like home, and there's no place like Home Centre to transform any space into your dream home” – this is the promise delivered by Home Centre, one of the largest furniture and home décor stores in the Middle East.

With 92 stores across the Middle East, North Africa and India, Home Centre offers an impressive variety of fine furniture and furnishings, home accessories, kitchenware, outdoor furniture and gift ideas distinguished by affordable prices, good value and comprehensive service. From the first store in Sharjah, UAE in 1995, Home Centre today occupies half a million sq. ft. of retail space within its stores in the UAE and over 3 million sq. ft. of retail space across all its markets.

Home Centre has undergone a complete revival and launched a fresh look and feel for it’s brand. The revamped showrooms display distinct attention to current trends, emphasise the vast product range and commit to earth-friendly initiatives and safety standards. Home Centre aims at making every visit to its store a treat for the whole family.

My comments:I have researched several different types of manufactured board to see which one I think I should use for my product. I have decided to use Medium Density Fibreboard because the boards are smooth, strong and extremely resistant to warping. Its layered structure makes fixing to the edges difficult. MDF is a board used industrially for the production of furniture, especially shelves and cupboards.

Plywood is made from thin layers of wood glued together at 90 degrees to each other.

This makes plywood very strong as it cannot split along the grain like solid timber. If

waterproof glue is used the plywood can be used in damp or even wet conditions.

Chipboard is made from softwood chips glued together. It is used to make kitchen worktops and carcases and is a very cheap material. It can be laminated with a melamine layer to give it a decorative and hardwearing finish.

Blockboard is made from pieces of softwood in a sandwich with a thin layer of wood at the top and bottom. It is used to make strong shelves.

Hardboard is mainly used in furniture making usually as a back to a shelving unit or cupboard. It is strong and hard because it is made out of exploded wood fibres that have been highly compressed.

Manufactured Boards

Cotton floss is the most common embroidery thread. It is a thread made of mercerized cotton, composed of six strands that are only loosely twisted together and easily separable. While there are many manufacturers, the two most-commonly used (and oldest) brands are DMC and Anchor, both of which have been manufacturing embroidery floss since the 19th century.Other materials used are pearl (or perle) cotton, Danish flower thread, silk and rayon. Different wool threads, metallic threads or other novelty threads may also be used.

The blanket stitch is another easy stitch that effectively provides an

edging to materials as well as securing the ends together. As it’s

name suggests, it was traditionally used for blankets.

This stitch is ideal for most natural and synthetic materials.

The running stitch or straight stitch is the basic stitch in hand-

sewing and embroidery and most other forms of sewing are based

on this. The stitch involves passing the needle in and out of the fabric either to sew pieces of

cloth together or to create designs. The stitch is easy to learn

and is often incorporated into children’s needlework classes.

Stitch and Thread Research

An embroidered quilt using the running stitch.

An example of the blanket stitch used for

edging .

The cross stitch is one of the oldest forms of embroidery and is still extremely popular. It is a simple X-shaped stitch used in a

tiled format to create intricate, detailed pictures on cloth. Cross stitch requires fabric that has an even weave that is easy to count. Stitching is done by counting threads in each direction, thereby ensuring that the stitch is uniform in size and appearance. The

colour of thread is the variant used to create the design.

My comments: I will be using the running stitch and the blanket stitch to make my removable boxes, playmat and pocket panel. I will not be using the cross stitch as I do not

have any pictures that could be made using the cross stitch on my product.

Natural Wood Fitting:Materials such as pine can be drilled and screws can be passed through these holes. This gives a cheap and effective knock-down joint. The screws are countersunk into the joint.

Rigid Joints:These are moulded in plastic which make them strong. Screws pass through the four holes which hold the sides at each corner firmly together.

Possible Joints

Two Block Fittings:This joint is made from plastic. A bolt passes through the first fitting and into the second. As the bolt is tightened it draws the two fittings together. This provides a very strong knock down joint and can be easily dismantled using a screwdriver.

CAM Lock:The disk fits into a recess in one side of the a cabinet. It rotates by inserting a screwdriver into the slot in its side. The shaft is screwed into the second side of the cabinet. The collar of the shaft is passed through the hole in the second slot in the disk. When the disk rotates the shaft is locked in position. This keeps both sides of the cabinet locked together.

Dowel Joint:A dowel joint is a butt joint reinforced with wooden pegs. It is often used instead of the tenon joint if cost is a consideration in the assembly of work. Dowel holes must be a perfect 90 degrees to the face of the work or the dowel will twist when it is assembled. It is a neat, strong joint however,drilling accurate holes can be difficult.

WeightTarget Market

Materials

DurabilityAesthetics

Safety

Function

Size

Cost

Specification

My product should last at least 5-7 years and my removable boxes should last at least 2

years if used properly.

My product must not have any sharp edges or corners

which could injure the consumer. Removable parts

of my product will not be heavy or small enough to be swallowed, to prevent injury.

My product will be bright and colourful and will have a

smooth finish. I will make sure that all edges are sanded to add to the aesthetic value.

The cost of my product would be approximately Dhs 400 as through my research I found

that this would be reasonable for the target buyer as my

product has various functions.

My product should be able to hold the weight of at least 2

children . It should be able to store a suitable amount of toys. It should be easy to use for the

consumer.

My product should be a suitable size for my target age group. I will carry out

anthropometric research to finalize my measurements. My boxes should be large

enough to hold an average amount of toys but small

enough for children to hold.

My product should be slightly on the heavier side so that it is

stable and doesn’t have a high chance of falling. However, it

should not be too heavy tas this would make it difficult for

customers to move around. The boxes should be light so that it’s

easy for children to move.

My product will have features that will attract its target

audience. It will include bold colours (red and blue mainly).

My storage bench will incorporate common toys for

young children such as an abacus etc. to add to the

appeal of my product. Wood should be sturdy and thick enough so that they do

not snap easily. Main materials used for the mat

and boxes should be easy to clean as young children may spill things when using them. A strong material should be used to for the abacus rods so that they are sturdy and

do not bend when being used.

Initial Ideas

More Initial Ideas

Developed Ideas

Models

I made a model of one of my developed ideas using card. I measured cut out each piece I needed using a ruler and cutting knife. I cut out nets of boxes to create the drawers and the space where the drawers are inserted into the whole product. I used the running stitch to create some side pockets made out of felt. I drew out a pirate parrot as it added to my theme as well as made it a product that was suitable for both a little boy or little girl. The telescope at the top of the backboard further adds to the theme. I then made a play mat that would fold up to the side of the storage bench out of some more felt. I used lots of colours to make it appealing to my target audience. I incorporated numbers and letters as children in my target age group are usually starting to learn. A pirate in the middle of the mat emphasizes the theme.

More Developed Ideas

More Developed Ideas

Final Design

CAD Drawings – Google SketchUp

Anthropometric Research1100mm

650mm

800mm

300mm

380mm

320mm

320mm

Piece Length

(mm)

Width

(mm)

Thickness

(mm)

Quantity

Side of Cabinet

1100

350 12 2

Top of Cabinet

350 300 12 1

Back of Cabinet

1100

300 12 1

Partitions 338 274 12 3

Bottom 1200

350 12 1

Seat 900 350 12 1

Side of Seat

350 300 12 1

Backboard

800 1200 12 1

Cutting Board

I carried out some anthropometric

research to ensure that my product would

be suitably sized for my target age group. I

asked the Year One teachers if I could

measure one boy and one girl to make my results applicable to

both genders.

240mm

4. I marked where the 2 partitions would be onto the inside of the both

sides of the cabinet (36cm apart). Next, I measured out four pieces of

wood (2.5cmx33.8cm) and attached them to the inner sides of my cabinet

(where I had marked) for the shelves to rest on so that they were strong and

able to hold a suitable amount of weight. I attached the shelves using wood glue and some nails to keep

them in place and reinforce the joint. I then attached the side of the cabinet with the space for an abacus to the

rest of my product.

5.Subsequently, I measured out the two shelves and cut them out using the fret saw. I applied wood glue to the shelf rests on either

side of my cabinet and then attached the shelves. I made the shelves non removable so that my product would be safe for the consumer.

If the shelves were removable, the child may pull them out and injure themselves.

Diary of Making1.I measured out the bottom , the two sides, back and

the top of the cabinet on some medium density fibreboard of 12mm thickness.

I used a ruler and a tri-square to make sure the corner angles were always 90 degrees.

I then cut the 4 pieces out using a circular saw as the pieces were too large to be cut using a fret saw. I

proceeded to then join one side of the cabinet to the bottom. I did this by measuring 12mm into the bottom

piece and applying some wood glue. I joined the two pieces and made sure that the edges all met properly.

Quickly after I had joined the pieces with the glue, I hammered in some nails to strengthen the joint and

keep the wood in place.After the glue had completely dried, I attached the back

and top of the cabinet using the same method.

2.For the other side of the cabinet I measured out a rectangle from the middle to accommodate the abacus. I then made holes at two opposite corners of the rectangle using a

------------.. I cut the rectangle out by placing the blade of the fret saw inside the hole and cutting along my lines.

3.I sanded the edges of the inner rectangle using three types of sandpaper (from rough to fine) to smoothen out the edges so that it would not cause any injury and add to the aesthetic value of my product. On the two sides, I then measured 3 points that were

equidistant from each other for me to later drill holes in which the rods for my abacus would be connected.

Diary of MakingI marked where the middle partition would be placed on the base of the product. I then cut out the partition and attached it to the base using wood glue and two L-shaped metal brackets for increased strength. I was initially going to use knock-down fittings to improve the joint, however, they were not available at any of the stores that I visited in Dubai. For the seat, I measured out the three pieces I needed and joined them together using wood glue and nails. I reinforced the joints with L-shaped metal brackets to ensure that the seat would be able to take the weight of at least two children. I then attached the three joined pieces to the base of my product with more of the brackets.

I then drilled holes for the rods of the abacus into the side of the cabinet where I had previously measured. I applied tape to the drill to make sure that the holes did not go through the thickness of the wood.

After attaching the seat, I used wood filler to fill any gaps between the pieces of wood where I had joined them. Wood filler is useful as it can be sanded and prevents holes and spaces in different parts of a product. It also adds to the aesthetic value.

Diary of Making

I drew out the backboard of my product and attached it

to the main part of my product using wood glue

and nails to make sure that the backboard was strong enough to take the weight

of a child. After the backboard was secure, I

sanded down all the edges of my product and made sure that there were no

sharp corners . I sanded the areas which I had applied

wood filler extra, to ensure a smooth finish. I then painted the wood with

primer and white paint. I applied two coats of this to improve the finish. I bought

red and blue paint whch had a shiny finish and painted the rest of my

product using these two colours.

After this, I drew and painted a parrot onto the backboard to add to my theme as stereotypically,

pirates own parrots. Then, I painted the telescope onto the top of my backboard,

further adding to the theme. When all the paint

had dried and I was satisfied with the finish, I proceeded to attach the

various extras to my product. I attached the side

pockets, playmat and whiteboard using velcro so

that they were easily removable to be cleaned as

young children tend to make messes when playing.

I then cut pictures out of the felt to stick onto the

boxes to add to the pirate theme.

Making the AbacusMaterials:

For the abacus, I bought some brass rods with a 6mm diameter as this would be an effective

material as it is strong and long-lasting. Also, the gold-like colour and shining exterior added to my pirate theme. I also bought some wood spheres

with a diameter of 30mm.

Using a hack saw, I cut three pieces from the brass rod each with a length of 32cm (slightly

longer than the length between the two sides so that the two ends of the rod would go into the

holes which I had previously drilled into the wood).

I then drilled holes into the wood balls. I put the balls in a vice when drilling to keep them steady

and secure so that my hole was straight. The holes I made had a diameter of 8mm so that the balls would be able to move easily along the rods

when being utilised.

After I’d made sure that the balls moved easily along the rods, I sanded them a little to ensure

smoothness and then spray painted them in orange, pink and yellow to attract the target

audience and make the product appealing. When the paint had dried, I put the balls onto the rods

and attached I to the side of my cabinet.

I made 3 storage boxes by first drawing nets in 100% polyester in 3 different colours and stitching this together

creating polyester pockets, using wool and a simple running stitch. To provide shape, I cut pieces of corrugated cardboard

and slid these into the polyester pockets I had previously stitched. Then I stitched the sides up using the running

stitch and further secured the seams with a blanket stitch for added aesthetic value. I used contrasting wool colours to the

colour of the box further enhancing the appeal of the finished product.

For the playmat, I used PVC, which is a thermoplastic made of 57% chlorine (derived from salt) and 43%

carbon (derived from oil and gas). PVC is less dependent than other polymers on crude oil or natural gas, which are non renewable and is hence regarded as a natural

resource saving plastic. The chlorine gives the PVC excellent fire resistance. PVC is durable and can be

cleaned easily which is ideal for the age group that my product caters to.

After cutting square pieces of PVC (each measuring 30X30cms), I stitched these pieces together to form a

colourful mat. I used coloured hemp as the thread as it is derived from natural fibres and is biodegradable.To add to the appeal of the product for children, I incorporated foam letters and numbers which are secured by Velcro and can be detached and their

position changed as part of play. Teachers and parents can also use the mat to jumble up the numbers and letters and allow the child to put them back in the

correct order.

Making the storage boxes and play mat

I have really enjoyed making my product and the most fun bits were creating the little add-ons that I believe make all the difference. I made the detachable, colourful pockets on the side by cutting pieces of felt and stitching them together. Velcro has been used to secure the pockets to the bench, thereby making it easy to remove and clean, whenever required. Yellow wool that contrasts with the colours of felt used, further enhances the overall vibrant look that I have attempted to carry as a theme through the entire making of my product.

The

pocket

panel

The seat cushion

Measuring and drawing the required size

Cutting the material.

Sewing the

cushion

To add to the comfort of myproduct as well as theaesthetic value I decided toadd a seat cushion. Extendingthe general colour palette ofthe product, I chose acolourful cotton blend. Aftermeasuring the seat I cut thefabric, inverted it and thenstitched three sides. Whenthe 3 sides were completed(using the running stitch), Iinverted the fabric and usedpolyester foam padding to fillthe cushion and give it shape.Polyester padding is a costeffective filler that is used inupholstery to create shapeand increase comfort. I thencompleted the cushion bysewing the fourth side. I amhappy with how the cushionadds to the overall appeal ofthe product and again I chosethe print and colour schemeensuring that it would besuitable for a little boy or girl.

Consumer

Testin

g

1. My product should not have sharpedges or small removable pieces.When making my product I made sure that all of my edges and corners were nicely filed and sanded to ensure smooth edges for the safety of my target consumer. Theremovable parts are made from light weightmaterials and none of the removable partsare small enough for a child to swallow or tocause any injury.

2. My product should be bright and colourful.This feature, I believe, is the highlight of my product . I have successfully incorporated bright colours and designs that are appealing to the target audience. To add to the aesthetic appeal, the playmat and the removable boxes infuse additional colour to the overall appearance of the product. The explosion of colour is age appropriate and makes the product fun for the kids.

3. My product should be able to hold the weight of 2 children and should provide storage for toys.On completion of my product, it has been tested and it withstood the weight of two older children than the target audience. There is sufficient space in the product to store toys. Toys may be placed in the two lower compartments under the seat . Space for soft toys has been provided in the removable boxes which are extremely lightweight and durable at the same time.

4. My product should be functional for five to seven years if kept well.The product has been built using medium density fibre board , which is a highly durable material. The structural panels of wood have been connected using L-shaped metal brackets. This makes my product sturdy , provides stability and prevents premature wear and tear to the product.

5. My product should be a suitable size for the target age group.I conducted an anthropometric survey with a group aged between 5-7 years old from Year 1 of Dubai British School. The measurements of the product are in line with the results of the survey,ensuring comfort for the consumer. Apart from the seating being at anappropriate height, the cabinet and the removable boxes are situated at a height that allows the child to store the toys themselves. When tested, feedback received from the children was that the product is ‘super comfortable’.

6. My product will have features that will attract its target audience.There are many facets in the product that will enagage the target age group. The pirate theme has been represented through a colourful parrot painted onto the back board. Further building on the theme, there are pirate symbols on the removable boxes. The floormat engages children by allowing them to remove letters and numbers (attached by velcro)and put them into the correct sequence. A whiteboard on the side of the cabinet allows for creative drawing and there is a colourful panel with pockets where children can place markers and other small items.

7.Main materials used for the mat and boxes should be easy to clean.The mat is made from panels of PVC which is extremely easy to wipe clean or wash if required. To make the boxes, I used polyester which again, is a thermoplastic material which is easy to clean. Both materials were chosen for the product, specifically for their general ease of maintenance.

8. Product Costing.The cost of the raw materials put together allow for a reasonable margin of profit. As the product is to be batch produced, this will further drive up the overall cost.

Evaluation against Specification

To summarise, my product is in line with

the specifications. It will be batch produced as a limited edition product at ‘Home Centre’ due to

the pirate theme.

EvaluationWhen I had completed my product, I took it down to a

Year 1 classroom and tested it. When the class was asked to guess what my product was they immediately

identified the pirate theme coming up with answers such as pirate bed, pirate seat and pirate toy cupboard. I then chose four children to further test my product. I

randomly chose two boys and two girls to make my evaluation accurate as my target audience is both

genders of this particular age group. I was extremely pleased with the outcome of my product as both the boys and girls thoroughly enjoyed using my product, especially the little add-ons: the abacus, the playmat

and the whiteboard. My product was able to hold two children as I had aimed to in the specification. When

asked, the children concluded that they really liked my storage unit altogether, however they had two favourite parts: the playmat and the whiteboard as they enjoyed moving the letters and numbers around and then trying to place them back into their original positions as well as drawing pictures and then being able to draw again

by erasing their previous drawing. I believe that my product has successfully met its specification and

exceeded my expectation. The Year 1 teachers thought my product was useful to keep the extra toys and made

a wonderful, vibrant addition to the classroom. They particularly liked the whiteboard as they believed it

aided the children’s learning by allowing them to enjoy any activity. If I was to remake my product I would try

to use a lighter main material as in the end my product became quite heavy. However, I was happy with the

fact that it was stable. I believe that to further enhance and improve my product, I would have liked to make

the telescope a 3D kaleidoscope which could be turned by the children creating pirate themed pictures. I am not able to make this change however I believe that

would have made an interesting addition to my product.